Posts filed under ‘Random acts of kindness’

Food is at the center of American activities. Food is a necessity and a luxury. It is a joy and it bonds people. Denise, a woman who oversaw the kitchen at our church felt that when food was served at an event, people felt welcomed and at ease.

There are many ways we can share food as an act of kindness. Be sure to add your ideas to this list.

Invite someone over for dinner.

Take an extra portion of your sack lunch contents to give to a co-worker.

Make cookies for a neighbor or the school crossing guard.

Make an acceptable goodie for someone who has food allergies. Getting a treat like this is rare and makes the recipient feel noticed.

Take a meal to someone who needs help (a new mom, someone just home from the hospital, someone who is grieving). I think a just-because meal would be gratefully accepted, too.

Buy gift cards to fast food restaurants to give to a teenager or homeless person.

NM is a free community meal served at my church (near Sacramento, CA) the last Friday of every month. If you are hungry, come and eat; if you’re not, come and serve. We have room for people to help in the following positions: set-up, clean-up, serve food, help our guests take food to the table, and visit with the guests while you both eat. We also take food and clothing.

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

When someone is hungry and doesn’t have easy access to food because of homelessness, pain, depression, or recuperation, that is a vulnerable state to be in.

Kindness is noticing that food is a necessity and brings comfort and acceptance. Kindness is feeding people.

Your Turn . . . When was the last time you performed this act of kindness? . . . When was the last time someone gave you food? . . . How did either/both situations make you feel.? . . . Who can you gift food to this week?

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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“Cor, all I have to say is, ‘Trick-or-Treat’ and people will give me sweets?” Robbie asked this multiple times during the car ride to Bentwaters Air Force base which was 80 miles northeast of London, England).

I assured him that was true. My two kiddos, Tim (6) and Elizabeth (5) had several Halloweens under their belt and knew the drill. But for Jamie (7) and Robbie (3 1/2) this was their first time since this holiday wasn’t observed in England. We had three more delightful Octobers together exchanging sweets for a three word sentence before we moved back to the United States.

Candy is universally loved whether you are a child or an adult. So I decided to give out Halloween candy to my neighbors as a way to get to know them. Of the 14 apartments near mine, i “knew” only one lady (because of her friendly cat.

However, this giving had a twist. I was going to reverse trick-or-treat.

I would go to their homes.

I would do this on a night other than Halloween because I hoped to catch my neighbors at home.

They didn’t have to say, ‘Trick-or-Treat.’

And if they weren’t home, I planned to leave the treats on the door step.

This is a sample of what I left for those who didn’t answer their door.

As a shy, introvert, I was so nervous. On the first night I went to six apartments.

I talked two people who were quite receptive to my gesture of friendship.

One lady ran from me into her apartment. I put the goodies by her front door.

Two apartments had packages on their porch, so I left my treats on top.

At one home, the occupant opened the door when I left. I heard the creaking so I said, “Oh, good, you are home.” Their reply was a slammed door. I left their treats on the door step.

I was so discouraged by these results. But last night, I tried it again. I dropped off treats for eight more apartments.

Two people weren’t home. Again I left their goodies by the door.

One person didn’t answer the door. I could hear him talking. But he got treats, as well.

I talked to five neighbors! Four of the neighbors were happy to meet me.

In total six ladies were glad I knocked on their doors to introduce myself. Kindness is getting to know your neighbors. Kindness is reverse trick-or-treating to do just that.

Your Turn . . . How well do you know your neighbors? . . . Would you try reverse trick-or-treating as a way to introduce yourself to your neighbors? Why or why not? . . . How did you get to know your neighbors?

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment.

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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Road rage is on the rise. People are stressed, tired, and have too much to do to arrive places on time. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. As a result we have driving expectations that are often not met.

We want . . . the traffic to be lighter … all the lights to be green . . . and for people to get OUT of our way right NOW.

I want my own personal lane. Or at least for native CA drivers to have a dedicated lane for us. Shouldn’t there be some perk for living in California?

This is selfish thinking. This is entitled thinking. This is dangerous thinking which can lead to us arriving at our destination frustrated at the last and full of road rage at the most.

Calm down. Notice the needs of others. We all have some place to go. Share nicely. These words need to replace our rage-enduing ones.

Let’s change our mindset that WE are the most important drivers on the road. Kindness is being a friendly driver.

Let people merge even when they do so incorrectly.

Leave an appropriate space between you and the car in front.

Don’t speed trying to push the car in front to go faster.

Use your blinkers.

Allow more time to get to your destinations.

Give grace when people drive like an idiot.

Remember that sometimes we are the idiot and want their grace. So be a kind driver.

Your Turn . . . What is one way you can be a kind driver? . . . What do you most appreciate from others when you drive like an (accidental) idiot?

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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“But I don’t like going to funerals. I feel awkward, don’t know what to say, and I didn’t even know Julie’s dad,” I said to an elderly mentor.

“Is Julie your friend? Is she hurting?”

I answered both questions with a “Yes.”

“Often times,” my mentor said, “we go to a funeral to support our grieving friend. It has nothing to do with us. It makes a difference that we attend.”

I found out at the funerals of my parents, that it did make a difference. Some people who attended didn’t even know my parents. I felt supported, loved, and understood because these friends were with me during a HARD time.

Besides going to the funeral, send a card. And find the most meaningful card you can. My grandpa Carol, a very unsentimental dude, told me about a card he received after his wife, Ruby, died. “It was the prettiest card and the words were so comforting. I put it on the TV for months.” This card was a little gesture, a kind gesture, that meant so much.

Kindness notices the needs of others. It meets those needs. Kindness is going to the funeral. It is sending a card.

Your Turn . . . Do you attend funerals or do you skip them whenever you can? . . . Have you ever thought about how significant a card can be? . . . What is something else we can do to support a grieving friend?

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different

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This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different.

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I arrived at the store ready to do a BIG shop. With a list in hand and a ticking clock, I went towards the cart coral inside. There wasn’t a single cart. Not one! I’ve never seen it empty before. I fumed a little as I went back out and grabbed one of the many carts that were parked by cars near the entrance.

Shopping done, on my way out of the store, I noticed that the in-store cart corral was still empty. I tucked my groceries into the trunk, and looked at my cell phone clock. I had finished early! 13 minutes early.

I put 13 minutes on my timer. Then I whizzed around gathering carts. I put the gathered carts into the outside cart corrals. Isn’t it funny that I didn’t want to get “caught” by a store employee. A few people thanked me. And one man said, “Why are you doing THEIR job?”

“So you can have a cart now and not have to come back outside,” I replied.

The older gentleman grunted as he took a cart from the cart cage. I whispered, “You’re welcome.”

Just as I was getting into my vehicle to drive away, a store employee was taking carts into the store. I don’t know whether I was spotted or not, but I did a spontaneous,13 minute, kind deed for the day. And it felt good.

Your Turn . . . Have you ever gathered a bunch of carts to return them? Did you feel conspicuous like I did? . . . Did you ever think of returning your shopping cart as an act of kindness? . . . What spontaneous act of kindness can you do today?

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This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different

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Prayer impacts people and situations.

We can lift them up when they doubt God’s involvement and power.

We can pray that peace will replace worry.

We can ask God to heal physical, emotional and spiritual wounds.

We can ask God to give guidance for a situation. And then to give them the power and tenacity to follow through.

We can pray that people will come to know and accept God’s love (as shown through salvation).

Because our God is unlimited, we can pray for any and every need. Prayer doesn’t work because of what we pray, but because of WHO we pray to: the Creator of heaven and earth, including each person.

Max Lucado says it this way, “Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”

Prayer is the best gift we can offer our family, friends, and even the world. Prayer is the best thing we can offer our enemies. Pray first, act second. Corrie ten Boom asks, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”

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This post is part of #Write31Days where bloggers write every day in October on one topic. I am writing about Acts of Kindness, random and otherwise. It will be interesting to note how I am different and/or how my community is different

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Have you ever paid for the person behind you to receive a free coffee, toll crossing, or donut? This idea is on most random act of kindness lists, I don’t prefer that idea. When I spend my money, I want to make a difference in someone’s life. People who are in such lines, have the money for the coffee, toll, or donut.

Instead, how about paying for someone who can’t pay it back or forward (at least right now)? Below are some ideas.

Pay for a homeless person’s lunch.

Take a senior on a fixed income to the movies.

Put a gas card on the windshield of a single mom’s car.

Treat a low-income friend to an event at church.

Kindness notices the needs of others. And then acts.

Your Turn . . . Keep a look out for who you could bless with an experience or food.